Hossa?

[FREEHAB]

Sorry if I'm always the one bringing "Eklund" to the party, but it's been too long a summer without hockey. I'm a sucker for the rumor mill, and it helps to pass the hot summer days thinking about possibilities and long shots.

"Eklund" says Montreal has inquired about getting Hossa from Atlanta. According to Hockey Buzz, it's a rumor that has been gaining some traction over the last little while.

I have my doubts about it's authenticity, but hey, it's fun to throw this new rumor into the ring and see what us fans think.

Thoughts?

[CrocRob]

Probably just kicking tires. It'll take 7.5-8 million to re-sign him long-term (maybe $8M/8=$64M total). Although Hossa is great, and nearly averages a goal every 2 games, I'm not sure Montreal is a great fit.

[seventeen]

How's his playoff performance?

[blny]

seventeen said:

How's his playoff performance?

Asked like someone who already knows the answer.

[Skilly]

seventeen said:

How's his playoff performance?

On par with Koivu's.

[jkr]

seventeen said:

How's his playoff performance?

I looked at it and it's pretty good except for last season when the whole ATlanta team was bad.

He only has one more year at 7 million left on his deal & he's a winger. The obvious need here is for a centre.

[Skilly]

jkr said:

seventeen said:

How's his playoff performance?

I looked at it and it's pretty good except for last season when the whole ATlanta team was bad.

He only has one more year at 7 million left on his deal & he's a winger. The obvious need here is for a centre.

And his cap-hit is only 6 million.

[Deleted]

A center? I think we're fine with the ones we have, and we'll be that much better with somebody like Hossa on the wing. If a deal's in the works, expect one or both of Ryder and Higgins to go the other way.

[Habfaith]

skilly said:

seventeen said:

How's his playoff performance?

On par with Koivu's.

Actually he isn't on par with Koivu. Koivu is at .84 ppg and +11, compared to Hossa's .64 and -9.

The playoffs is where Saku elevates his game, as opposed to Hossa who disappears, (1 point in 4 games last year)

[Andrew]

habfaith said:

skilly said:

On par with Koivu's.

Actually he isn't on par with Koivu. Koivu is at .84 ppg and +11, compared to Hossa's .64 and -9.

The playoffs is where Saku elevates his game, as opposed to Hossa who disappears, (1 point in 4 games last year)

And 26 points in 30 games between 2002 and 2003.

The big issue again is contract. I don't want to give up assets unless he's locked up long term. As redscull said, it'll take big dollars over a number of years to do so.

[Skilly]

habfaith said:

skilly said:

On par with Koivu's.

Actually he isn't on par with Koivu. Koivu is at .84 ppg and +11, compared to Hossa's .64 and -9.

The playoffs is where Saku elevates his game, as opposed to Hossa who disappears, (1 point in 4 games last year)

35 points in 55 games for Hossa. And 31 of those in his last 41 games.

36 points in 43 games for Koivu.


That's not on par?

[Habfaith]

skilly said:

habfaith said:

Actually he isn't on par with Koivu. Koivu is at .84 ppg and +11, compared to Hossa's .64 and -9.

The playoffs is where Saku elevates his game, as opposed to Hossa who disappears, (1 point in 4 games last year)

35 points in 55 games for Hossa. And 31 of those in his last 41 games.

36 points in 43 games for Koivu.


That's not on par?

Nope.

For one thing Hossa was playing with guys like Alfredsson, Havlat, Spezza and now Kovalchuk and Kozlov. Who has been riding shotgun with Koivu?

For another, Koivu is +11 in the regular season (if you exclude this year's -21 annomally) and stays at +11 in the playoffs. Hossa goes from +99 to -9.

I'm not saying Koivu is better than Hossa overall, but I am saying he is better in the playoffs. Koivu's playoff totals remain bang on with his regular season numbers despite the tighter checking playoff atmosphere. Hossa goes from being a point a game player in the regular season to a .64 in the playoffs. That shows me one guy is bringing his "A" game, and the other, as skilled as he is, eases off the pedal when springtime rolls around.

[Skilly]

habfaith said:

skilly said:

35 points in 55 games for Hossa. And 31 of those in his last 41 games.

36 points in 43 games for Koivu.


That's not on par?

Nope.

For one thing Hossa was playing with guys like Alfredsson, Havlat, Spezza and now Kovalchuk and Kozlov. Who has been riding shotgun with Koivu?

For another, Koivu is +11 in the regular season (if you exclude this year's -21 annomally) and stays at +11 in the playoffs. Hossa goes from +99 to -9.

I'm not saying Koivu is better than Hossa overall, but I am saying he is better in the playoffs. Koivu's playoff totals remain bang on with his regular season numbers despite the tighter checking playoff atmosphere. Hossa goes from being a point a game player in the regular season to a .64 in the playoffs. That shows me one guy is bringing his "A" game, and the other, as skilled as he is, eases off the pedal when springtime rolls around.

Sure, ok ... Koivu gets to have an "anomally" erased but Hossa doesn't.

If you erase the year where Hossa got 0 points in 6 playoff games and was a -8 .... well he ends up -1, and 0.72ppg.

[Habfaith]

skilly said:

habfaith said:

Nope.

For one thing Hossa was playing with guys like Alfredsson, Havlat, Spezza and now Kovalchuk and Kozlov. Who has been riding shotgun with Koivu?

For another, Koivu is +11 in the regular season (if you exclude this year's -21 annomally) and stays at +11 in the playoffs. Hossa goes from +99 to -9.

I'm not saying Koivu is better than Hossa overall, but I am saying he is better in the playoffs. Koivu's playoff totals remain bang on with his regular season numbers despite the tighter checking playoff atmosphere. Hossa goes from being a point a game player in the regular season to a .64 in the playoffs. That shows me one guy is bringing his "A" game, and the other, as skilled as he is, eases off the pedal when springtime rolls around.

Sure, ok ... Koivu gets to have an "anomally" erased but Hossa doesn't.

If you erase the year where Hossa got 0 points in 6 playoff games and was a -8 .... well he ends up -1, and 0.72ppg.

I only erased the anomally because I can't stand to see that -10 on his career numbers ;D

If you leave the minus on there it only magnifies the amount Koivu raises his game in the playoffs. A plus 21 difference for Koivu, a -108 for Hossa... With a slap on the wrist for Koivu and his -21 regular season.

[seventeen]

skilly said:

35 points in 55 games for Hossa. And 31 of those in his last 41 games.

36 points in 43 games for Koivu.

That's not on par?

Let's see........35/55= 0.64 points per game

36/43 = 0.84 ppg.

Or to make it seem even less on par...Koivu has scored 31.25 % more PPG than Hossa, so far.

Skilly, I have this great lot in Florida you'd love...with it's own pond (which I wouldn't get too close too) and it's a mere $300,000. It was $228,500 yesterday, but heck, those two prices are on par.

[Skilly]

seventeen said:

skilly said:

35 points in 55 games for Hossa. And 31 of those in his last 41 games.

36 points in 43 games for Koivu.

That's not on par?

Let's see........35/55= 0.64 points per game

36/43 = 0.84 ppg.

Or to make it seem even less on par...Koivu has scored 31.25 % more PPG than Hossa, so far.

Skilly, I have this great lot in Florida you'd love...with it's own pond (which I wouldn't get too close too) and it's a mere $300,000. It was $228,500 yesterday, but heck, those two prices are on par.

As I said ... 31 points in his LAST 41 games ... my math tells me that is 0.76ppg (everyone not named Yashin sucked for Ottawa those early years)

And even though Koivu is my favourite player .... his regular season number only managed to get us to the playoffs 6 of his 11 seasons. First we have to get there.

I fail to see why all of a sudden it is kosher in Montreal to turn away 100pt players. Isn't that what we have been lacking .... offense?

Conversely ... Hossa has only missed the playoffs once in his career (his first with Atlanta). And in the process has racked up four 80+ point seasons (4 more than Koivu), two 90+ point seasons (2 more than Koivu), and a 100 pt season (1 more than Koivu).

I'll take Marian Hossa on my team anyday of the week ... playoff numbers and all. Koivu can pick the slack up then ... being a team game and all.

[seventeen]

I'd love to have a guy who could crack the top 10 in scoring too, Skilly. If he was available, I'd be really curious to know what he'd cost us.

[Habfaith]

skilly said:

And even though Koivu is my favourite player .... his regular season number only managed to get us to the playoffs 6 of his 11 seasons. First we have to get there.

I fail to see why all of a sudden it is kosher in Montreal to turn away 100pt players. Isn't that what we have been lacking .... offense?

Conversely ... Hossa has only missed the playoffs once in his career (his first with Atlanta). And in the process has racked up four 80+ point seasons (4 more than Koivu), two 90+ point seasons (2 more than Koivu), and a 100 pt season (1 more than Koivu).

I'll take Marian Hossa on my team anyday of the week ... playoff numbers and all. Koivu can pick the slack up then ... being a team game and all.

I'm not arguing with you there Skilly, I'd take Hossa in a heart beat, I was just trying to make the point that Koivu out plays him in the playoffs.

As for comparing their careers, I think Koivu is vastly underrated considering his supporting casts over the years. The Habs have missed the playoffs in spite of Koivu, not because of him.

Anyway, as I said, for the right price I'd love to have Hossa. He can help get us to the post season, and Saku will lead the way through them.

[ropoflu]

Hossa

for

Ryder+Huet+?


Right wing for right wing
Lethonen with a groin injury once again (happened last night)
All UFAs
6M versus 5.7M in salaries

[franko]

ropoflu said:

Hossa

for

Ryder+Huet+?


Right wing for right wing
Lethonen with a groin injury once again (happened last night)
All UFAs
6M versus 5.7M in salaries

Don't need another petulant kid prone to injuries.

[Polarice]

ropoflu said:

Hossa

for

Ryder+Huet+?


Right wing for right wing
Lethonen with a groin injury once again (happened last night)
All UFAs
6M versus 5.7M in salaries

It would have to be one or the other, I wouldn't package both for Hossa.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

seventeen said:

I'd love to have a guy who could crack the top 10 in scoring too, Skilly. If he was available, I'd be really curious to know what he'd cost us.

ropoflu said:

Hossa

for

Ryder+Huet+?


Right wing for right wing
Lethonen with a groin injury once again (happened last night)
All UFAs
6M versus 5.7M in salaries

It would take something like this to land Hossa but I think Gainey would probably have to sweeten the pot a bit.

I think this smoke will blow over once Atlanta starts winng a few games. The thing is, Atlanta fired Hartley with Hossa out of the lineup and the Thrashers having yet to win a game. Now Hossa returns and the Thrashers win their first game.

Now, I don't think this is a reflection of Hossa's leadership as it is more about his talent level. It doesn't matter where this guy goes in the league (and he'll go to the highest bidder without a doubt), the gaining club will have to have a guy who can kick some butt in the dressingroom. And Hossa will definitely need that from time to time.

But, like I was saying, I don't think Hossa is on the market. He's back and the overall mood of the organization and fan base will probably change once they start winning again.

Cheers.

[franko]

Hossa's trade value is iffy right now. Odds are that he's going to use his UFA status to test the market in July, so anyone trading for him is only getting him for a season. How much is he worth for one season?

He might bring something at the deadline, but we'd be vastly overpaying for him now (we'd be like the Trhashers, who sold the farm for a failed playoff run last year).

[Andrew]

franko said:

ropoflu said:

Hossa

for

Ryder+Huet+?


Right wing for right wing
Lethonen with a groin injury once again (happened last night)
All UFAs
6M versus 5.7M in salaries

Don't need another petulant kid prone to injuries.

I'm not sure where you got the idea that he's petulant and injury prone. I did hear him complain about the poor Atlanta ice, which he attributed to his recent groin injury. Have there been other cases?

In terms of being injury prone, he's played 80 or more games in each of the last 5 seasons (and 78 the season before that).

In terms of trade value, he's worth far more to Atlanta and their playoff hopes than what most teams will be willing to give up. There is no way that they would take two impending UFA's in Ryder and Huet.

[franko]

andrew said:

franko said:

Don't need another petulant kid prone to injuries.

I'm not sure where you got the idea that he's petulant and injury prone. I did hear him complain about the poor Atlanta ice, which he attributed to his recent groin injury. Have there been other cases?

In terms of being injury prone, he's played 80 or more games in each of the last 5 seasons (and 78 the season before that).

Mea Culpa. Or my bad. Or oops. Or boy did I blow it!

That's what happens when you try to rush things through.

I was thinking Havlat.

In terms of trade value, he's worth far more to Atlanta and their playoff hopes than what most teams will be willing to give up.

You've got that. Hossa is going nowhere unless it is a trade deadline deal because the Thrashers have no hope of making it.

They'll try to sign him through the season but it really does sound like he wants to test the market.

[Andrew]

franko said:

andrew said:

I'm not sure where you got the idea that he's petulant and injury prone. I did hear him complain about the poor Atlanta ice, which he attributed to his recent groin injury. Have there been other cases?

In terms of being injury prone, he's played 80 or more games in each of the last 5 seasons (and 78 the season before that).

I was thinking Havlat.

I'm with you on that one. Havlat is about as solid as a porcelain doll. I think his latest shoulder injury came from shoving someone in a scrum.